An Act restoring the furlough program for incarcerated persons

This bill restores the furlough program for incarcerated individuals in Massachusetts, allowing them to leave correctional facilities for short periods under specific conditions. The law permits offenders to be away from prison for up to seven days at a time, with a maximum of 14 days within any 12-month period, for purposes such as attending funerals, visiting critically ill relatives, seeking employment, or securing housing upon release. Eligibility extends to those serving life sentences or serious crimes, provided the facility superintendent recommends the move and the state commissioner approves it. During these authorized absences, the individuals remain under the facility's custody, and the time spent outside counts toward their sentence, with travel expenses covered by the correctional facility.